Propulsion link for endless traction belts



J1me 1927' A. L. LANGENFELD PROPULSION LINK FOR ENDLESS TRACTION BELTS Filed March 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 21 1927.

A. L; LANGENFELD PROPULSION LINK FOR ENDLESS TRACTION BELTS Filed March 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1927,

' UNITED STATES ADOLPE L. LANGENFELD, OF NEW HOLSTEIN, WISCONSIN.

PROPULSION LINK FOB ENDLESS TRACTION BELTS.

Application filed March 5, 1827. Serial No. 173,104.

This invention relates to propulsion links for endless traction belts.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of traction belt and tread piece therefor, which is so constructed that it will secure a very firm grip on the roadway, particularly where a loose footing is ordinarily secured, as, for instance, in snow and in sand, and also which is soconstructed that packing of the snow or other material between the tread pieces and the wheels is prevented asmeans are provided for. automatically discharging any snow that may be picked up.

Further objects are to' provide a novel form of tread piece in which the maximum of strength combined with extreme light-- ness is obtained by the same construction which secures the additional secure grip upon the roadway.v I

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompan ing drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a. ragmentary side view ofa portion of a wheel of an automobile provided with the traction belt;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section of the tread piece;

Figure 3 is a view from the underside of the tread piece;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the tread piece comprises a body portion provided with a downwardly and centrally arched intermediate part 1 and with outwardly extending end portions 2. The intermediate portion is provided with a centrally located aperture 3, preferably of approximately elliptical contour. It is to be noted particularly that the side edges of the body portion of the tread piece are provided with downwardly extending flanges 4, and similarly the tread piece is provided with a downwardly extendlng flange 5 at the marline gin of the centrally located aperture 3.7

These flanges, as is apparent from Figures 2, 3, and 4, form a plurality of grip ing members located transversely of the w eel, as is apparent from Figure '1, and insure a ve firm grip.

ach of these tread pieces may, if desired, be formed from) sheet metal by suitable stamping operations, and thus extreme cheapness may be obtained, together with great strength due to the flange construction, and a o lightness.

The outwardly projectin ends of the tread piece are each provi ed with guide lugs 6 which have their inner faces curved, as indicated at 7, so that the wheel may be accurately guided by the downwardly arched portion 1, and the curved side or inner faces of the guide lugs. Each guide lug, as

shown most clearly in Figure 4, is provided with an inte al link anchor post 8, located at opposite sides thereof and through which attaching bolts 9 pass. These attaching bolts preferably have their heads located on the underside of the tread pieces and the nuts 10 therefor are located on the upper side of the guide lug. These anchor posts have the links 11 looped about them and thus successive tread pieces are securely joined.

It is tobe noted that the device is so constructed that a wheel equipped with a tire, as shown in Figure 1 and indicated by the reference character 12, 'may be readily received by the device without dangerof injuring any portion of the wheel, as the tire is guided by the rounded contacting surfaces of the tread piece and guide lugs. Further, this invention provides a propulsion traction belt which secures a very firm grip uponthe roadway due'to the plurality of downwardly extending flanges which bite into theinse'cure footing upon which the device may travel.

Further, due to the flanged construction, 1

snow. For example, as the tire enters sue cessive tread pieces, it dislodges the snow therefrom through the central aperture and, consequently, packing of the snow in the tread piece can not occur.

Althou h the invention has been described in considrable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention maybe variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed I claim: 7

1. In a traction belt structure, the combination of 'a plurality of tread pieces each having a downwardly arched body portion provided with a central opening and having a wheel-engagin guide In located at 0 posite sides of the tread piece, each ui e lug havin anchor posts contacting wit the body of t e tread piece, and links joinin successive tread pieces and looped around the posts of the guide lugs.

2. A traction belt tread piece comprisin a body ortion having a downwardly archeri central y apertured intermediate ortion and having outwardly projecting si e portions,

a wheel engaging guide lug carried by each of said side portions, said guide lugs each having integral link-receiving anchor posts 1 at opposite sides of such guide lug, and bolts passing through the tread pieces and the anchor lugs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, 20 in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin. 7

ADOLPH L. LANGENFELD. 

